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Should we be forced to be bilingual in our own country?

ACEDMagazine March 18, 2008 16:29:23

So many job descriptions of late require applicants to speak Spanish and English. The last time I checked this was America, and America is an English-speaking country. Why is it we have to know Spanish to write for an English-speaking publication? To work at any local business that does not deal directly with Spanish-speaking countries? Even an office assistant in a doctor's office is required to speak both languages... They even tried to make Spanish the primary language in some South Florida schools. I am sure there are other similar circumstances in other parts of the country as well.

It is my opinion, if people come here they need to learn to speak English. We did not go to their country they came to ours. And if we had moved to their country, then we should learn their language. I don't think it is right to "require" people to know Spanish or any other language for a job in the US that does not directly deal with other countries.
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  • +6 raves willienye March 19, 2008 14:03:04 (edited)
    willienye

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    While it is nice to know more than one language, making it a requirement for employment in the USA is unacceptable. If people want to retain their own language when they immigrate to the USA, that's fine but they must learn English if they plan on staying here.

    My wife and her family immigrated to the USA many years ago and she is not only fluent in English, but also Italian and Spanish as well. When people come up to her speaking Spanish, she ignores them and finds that most of them CAN actually speak English when they have to. This just reinforces my theory that these people just want us to convert to their language instead of them learning ours.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you immigrate to another country, you are declaring your desire to become a citizen of that country. As such, it is YOUR responsibility to learn the language of that country and to assimilate to the culture. If you don't feel that you want to, for what ever reason, then you can move right back to wherever you came from and retain your own culture and language. If a person moves to Canada, they are required to learn both English AND French since those are the official languages of Canada. If you want to immigrate to Italy, you learn Italian, France-French, Germany-German, so why has it ...
    While it is nice to know more than one language, making it a requirement for employment in the USA is unacceptable. If people want to retain their own language when they immigrate to the USA, that's fine but they must learn English if they plan on staying here.

    My wife and her family immigrated to the USA many years ago and she is not only fluent in English, but also Italian and Spanish as well. When people come up to her speaking Spanish, she ignores them and finds that most of them CAN actually speak English when they have to. This just reinforces my theory that these people just want us to convert to their language instead of them learning ours.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you immigrate to another country, you are declaring your desire to become a citizen of that country. As such, it is YOUR responsibility to learn the language of that country and to assimilate to the culture. If you don't feel that you want to, for what ever reason, then you can move right back to wherever you came from and retain your own culture and language. If a person moves to Canada, they are required to learn both English AND French since those are the official languages of Canada. If you want to immigrate to Italy, you learn Italian, France-French, Germany-German, so why has it become OPTIONAL to learn English when people immigrate, legally or illegally, to The United States of America? It's time we take our country back from the invaders that refuse to respect our culture, diversity and language. We didn't move to their country, they came to ours so, why then must we learn THEIR language to retain employment in OUR country?
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  • JasMANIA May 08, 2008 21:35:08
    JasMANIA

    Yes! We should cater to people speaking other languages, even if it means not getting a job.

    Why not? You will definitely get far in life. Instead of being stubborn why not take a chance? Thats whats wrong with America now...if other countries can speak two languages why can't we?
  • +1 raves
    rustex78 JasMANIA September 24, 2008 14:54:34
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • +1 raves
    Rosario... JasMANIA October 18, 2008 22:10:58
    RosarioHoyt
    If you don't like the notion of an "English only" rule here, then leave...
  • American Nate May 07, 2008 02:59:53 (edited)
    American Nate

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    its the same what there trying to do like there doing measurement by trying to put gay measurement into our country. like meters, kilimeters, instead of feet, yards, and miles
  • +3 raves
    shhsecret April 25, 2008 21:32:20
    shhsecret

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    I live in Dalton GA and we have the same problem here, if you don't speak spanish you're not going to get the job. You walk into any employment office, doctors office, insurance company, or store in a mall and all that is working there are hispanics because they're the only ones fluent in Spanish and English. The reason they have to be bilingual is because of the illegals that have come here and don't know english. So NO, we should not cater to them; the majority who can't speak english are not legal anyways.
  • +1 raves
    rustex78 shhsecret September 24, 2008 14:56:19
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • Rosario... shhsecret October 18, 2008 22:12:28
    RosarioHoyt
    Exactly. I don't understand why everyone doesn't see this.
  • BlackSails April 16, 2008 11:25:16
    BlackSails

    Undecided

    Most countries residents speak much more than 1 language. Typically it's 3-4 languages.

    Germans generally speak German, Turkish, Serbo-Croatian, Italian, Kurdish.

    Tagalog, English is the official language of Philippines

    People in Romania speak Romanian, Hungarian, Romani, Turkish, and German

    German, French, Italian, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian is the official language of Switzerland

    so, asking for spanish is nothing.
  • +1 raves
    Icedrag... BlackSails July 10, 2008 05:17:45 (edited)
    Icedragon1969
    Yes, but in those countries it's a requirement to take -some- other language, not a specific one. I will agree with curriculum requirements for students to take a second language, but never a requirement for a -specific- second language, and unless the position you're applying for involves international relations/correspondence, then knowing Spanish, should certainly not be required.
  • +1 raves
    rustex78 BlackSails September 24, 2008 14:58:10
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • mr jiggs April 13, 2008 13:57:18
    mr jiggs

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    Today the threat to Americas language is very real. I just read an article about the Timberline Elementary school in Grapevine Tx. where more than half the students are Spanish. To make American children conform to the majority, Spanish is now mandatory. Some parents say that their children shouldn't be compelled to accomodate those who live in our country who refuse to learn the primary and current native tongue of English. The school won't budge. Spanish is for the students own good, it says. " The whole intent is to give students a foundation that we believe broadens their experiences and prepares them for success in our diverse World"
    If we don't wake up soon we are going to lose the USA as we have always known it. How sad.
  • rustex78 mr jiggs September 24, 2008 15:00:03
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • +1 raves
    Poolee Rock April 13, 2008 07:09:39
    Poolee Rock

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    fuck no there use to be a time where if someone couldn't read or write or speak American (not english they speak that in England) that person was shipped back to where ever the hell they came from. we should adobted that again because all these fucking illegals piss me off, how they got jobs when they only can say 2 mabey 3 words in American fucking illegals. if they want to become a citizen and pay taxes like the rest of us i could care less but they should learn the fucking language too
  • rustex78 Poolee ... September 24, 2008 15:02:46
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • +1 raves
    josodf April 12, 2008 14:32:57
    josodf

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    I believe learning another language should be for ones own benefit...perhaps if you were to travel to another country so you could communicate with the native speakers "there". Learning another language so you can communicate with others who can't or refuse to speak english in the US is wrong. Imigrants and illegal aliens should be working to learn english and how to fit in to our society. US makes too many consessions to "others" using various freedom acts as an excuse. It cost tax payers millions in the end.
  • +3 raves
    ibiza April 11, 2008 16:57:56
    ibiza

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    Learn it or go back home!
  • +1 raves
    Lies Won't Hide Your Flaws April 02, 2008 13:33:50 (edited)
    Lies Won't Hide Your Flaws

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    It ticks me off i agree with the comment that taxidrivr made. We do hve spansh and english on everything we have shoot if we go to sweden or even Mexico they are not going to have english under their language on their products!!
  • Shane - oldschoolelf April 02, 2008 12:59:42
    Shane - oldschoolelf

    Undecided

    Even though english is the main language in the states, learning and speaking a different language has its benifits. Should people wish to recieve these benifits. It should be learned upon choosing to, not being forced to. I speak some spanish but that's because I choose to learn it. When we were in middle school, we were forced to but now it an elective.
  • +1 raves
    Arel April 02, 2008 11:56:20
    Arel

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    If you want to live in America you should learn to speak English.
  • +2 raves
    DamagedRoses March 25, 2008 17:29:32
    DamagedRoses

    Undecided

    I do not think we should cater to the foreigners coming to America- but I do think that its sad that America is the only country that's not bilingual at all. I think we should learn how to speak the second most used language after english. I also believe if you move to America you should learn to speak english- my ancestors did. They knew in order to survive and strive, they needed to learn English- and did so. They didnt expect the rest of the country to change for them.
  • MsK March 20, 2008 14:50:49
    MsK

    Undecided

    well not enforce it... but this is a global society, the more langs you know the more opportunies in life you will have
  • +2 raves
    Matt March 20, 2008 13:38:54
    Matt

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    I don't care what language any one else speaks...it's their perogative, but no one should be forced to learn theirs. English is our national language and if foriegn people want to communicate properly in this country, they need to learn our language, not the other way around. It would be nice to know spanish, just so I could know what's being said, but I don't think having it as a job qualification is right.
  • +6 raves
    willienye March 19, 2008 14:03:04 (edited)
    willienye

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    While it is nice to know more than one language, making it a requirement for employment in the USA is unacceptable. If people want to retain their own language when they immigrate to the USA, that's fine but they must learn English if they plan on staying here.

    My wife and her family immigrated to the USA many years ago and she is not only fluent in English, but also Italian and Spanish as well. When people come up to her speaking Spanish, she ignores them and finds that most of them CAN actually speak English when they have to. This just reinforces my theory that these people just want us to convert to their language instead of them learning ours.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you immigrate to another country, you are declaring your desire to become a citizen of that country. As such, it is YOUR responsibility to learn the language of that country and to assimilate to the culture. If you don't feel that you want to, for what ever reason, then you can move right back to wherever you came from and retain your own culture and language. If a person moves to Canada, they are required to learn both English AND French since those are the official languages of Canada. If you want to immigrate to Italy, you learn Italian, France-French, Germany-German, so why has it ...
    While it is nice to know more than one language, making it a requirement for employment in the USA is unacceptable. If people want to retain their own language when they immigrate to the USA, that's fine but they must learn English if they plan on staying here.

    My wife and her family immigrated to the USA many years ago and she is not only fluent in English, but also Italian and Spanish as well. When people come up to her speaking Spanish, she ignores them and finds that most of them CAN actually speak English when they have to. This just reinforces my theory that these people just want us to convert to their language instead of them learning ours.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you immigrate to another country, you are declaring your desire to become a citizen of that country. As such, it is YOUR responsibility to learn the language of that country and to assimilate to the culture. If you don't feel that you want to, for what ever reason, then you can move right back to wherever you came from and retain your own culture and language. If a person moves to Canada, they are required to learn both English AND French since those are the official languages of Canada. If you want to immigrate to Italy, you learn Italian, France-French, Germany-German, so why has it become OPTIONAL to learn English when people immigrate, legally or illegally, to The United States of America? It's time we take our country back from the invaders that refuse to respect our culture, diversity and language. We didn't move to their country, they came to ours so, why then must we learn THEIR language to retain employment in OUR country?
    (more)
  • ACEDMag... willienye March 19, 2008 14:30:17
    ACEDMagazine
    *applauds*
  • Damaged... willienye March 25, 2008 17:31:37
    DamagedRoses
    TOTALLY agree w/ you- 100%! You said what I was trying to say- but better...LOL Well said!
  • +3 raves
    jobless... willienye August 21, 2009 17:51:02
    jobless and wondering why
    I was brought to the United States of America when I was just a baby by my adoptive military mom and dad...when I was old enough I took the oath of citizenship and was naturalized to this country. At that time, 51 years ago, that my parents (both Natural Americans) were told by the judge that I could have some exposure to my Asian roots but I was to learn English and become American in my dealing in the United States, such as you were taught.

    I have worked in a public service area for many years and have noted, as your wife has, that it is true most, if not all of the spanish or other bilingual people can speak to some length in English and the ones that cannot or choose not to as it "will embarrase them" will bring an interreptor (if I'm lucky), or "struggle through" the English, but the cursing always comes out loud and clear, in English :?. I'm thinking if I need to learn, at the least, conversational languages for other countries then why do we not require conversational english for those coming into the United States.

    Just a few thoughts. Thank you for your views, sometimes I think I am alone in what I think but am glad I stummbled across sodahead today.
  • +1 raves
    gorgeous.tragedy March 19, 2008 04:47:33
    gorgeous.tragedy

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    NOPE
    duh
  • -1 raves
    Derek March 19, 2008 00:42:24 (edited)
    Derek

    Undecided

    moderated...
  • +3 raves
    ACEDMag... Derek March 19, 2008 00:50:31 (edited)
    ACEDMagazine
    Yes - then it should include discrimination with regards to language as well. And frankly, being forced to speak Spanish in an English speaking country or not being hired is discrimination.

    Simple. PS - do you know what a socialist is?
  • Derek ACEDMag... March 19, 2008 04:59:23
    Derek
    moderated...
  • +2 raves
    ACEDMag... Derek March 19, 2008 13:12:32 (edited)
    ACEDMagazine
    I disagree. Discrimination to the point of many people not being able to get jobs anymore that are fully qualified is not constitutional in an English speaking nation. Forcing people to speak Spanish in their own country to get a job, however, is socialist behavior. To quote you, it would be mob rule. It is fine to say "Spanish is a plus", but not to require people to speak it fluently to get hired in the US. And the KKK is a completely and totally different topic, and they are despicable in my opinion, and not related to this at all. We are talking about language and jobs and inevitable increases in unemployment rates in the US because of these requirements. If you wanna be some place that requires Spanish for a job go to a Spanish speaking country. In America, unless you are working directly with a country that speaks Spanish or you are needed for translation, it should NOT be a requirement for a position that deals with English speaking Americans. Period.
  • Derek ACEDMag... March 19, 2008 20:51:31 (edited)
    Derek
    moderated...
  • shhsecret Derek April 25, 2008 21:50:26
    shhsecret
    Employers have to hire people who are bilingual to speak to people who can't speak English. MOST hispanics who can not speak English are not here legally in the first place. Employers who hire these illegal aliens are doing so for a reason because it saves them money one way or another or they would hire the american who is here legally. Do you think that is right? These employers are using their brains by hiring illegals? Therefore by these employers getting their extra money the legal american is losing his job to a foreign man that is here illegally??? Oh yeah, real smart. Then this legal american who can't find a job because he's not bilingual goes to get food stamps for his family, drawing unemployment, getting on medicaid costing all of americans tax money. Agreeing with speaking bilingual is ignorant and supporting illegal aliens coming over here and therefore you're being anti-patriotic because you're supporting something that is ruining this country!!
  • rustex78 Derek September 24, 2008 15:09:29
    rustex78
    moderated...
  • +1 raves
    Kimmi L March 19, 2008 00:19:55
    Kimmi L

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    It shouldn't be a requirement, but I personally want to become fluent in spanish, portuguese and italian. But that's for traveling purposes.
  • Michael, Arrivederci e amore March 18, 2008 23:44:57
    Michael, Arrivederci e amore

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    Absolutely not.
  • +1 raves
    .... March 18, 2008 22:22:20
    ....

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    moderated...
  • +2 raves
    scrshaw March 18, 2008 21:47:16
    scrshaw

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    NO!!! Officially or Unofficially, English is the language of the US. Anyone who would even suggest that people be forced to learn another language and thinks the public would just accept it, is an idiot!
  • Crazy March 18, 2008 21:38:50
    Crazy

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    English will rise to be the 1 and only language in the World!!!!

  • Doda March 18, 2008 21:13:45
    Doda

    No! We speak English in the States thanks.

    Hell no, if you go to there country it is not required you learn there language, you are in America, speak ENGLISH
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